Rockville offers Movies in the Parks

CUT: Patrons watched “The Lego Movie” on July 29, 2015 at Montrose Park during the first “Movies in the Parks.” The event returns for its third year to Rockville parks, offering free movies in different parks every Wednesday in August. COURTESY PHOTO The drive-in movie theater may have become part of a bygone era, but you can drive or walk this summer to catch a movie in the park.

For the third year in a row, the City of Rockville is presenting four free outdoor films at four different neighborhood parks every Wednesday in August as part of its Movies in the Park series.

“The films are shown on a big inflatable screen, so everyone gets to see,” said Marylou Berg, Rockville’s director of communication.

Movies begin at dusk (approximately 8 p.m.). The series will feature the following:

“Toy Story” on Aug. 2 at Montrose Park, 451 Congressional Lane

“Sing” on Aug. 9 at Fallsgrove Park, 700 Fallsgrove Road.

“The Sandlot” on Aug. 16 at Woodley Gardens Park, 900 Nelson Street.

“Zootopia” on Aug. 23 at Calvin Park, 1248 Gladstone Drive.

“We try to show two fairly new and two more classic movies,” said Berg. “But they’re all family-oriented.”

Patrons should bring their own chairs or blankets to sit on the grass, as well as their own food and beverages. All the parks have nearby parking available.

“But a lot of people just walk to the movies,” Berg said.

So far, walking, cycling, or driving, the response of the public has been “fantastic,” Berg said. The first year, 200 people attended each movie. The second year, that number went up to 300, and more people are expected to attend this year.

“There are a lot of parks in Rockville,” she added. “This is just another way to experience them.”